Resource Guide: Vermont New Farmer Network Member Organization

Natural Resources Conservation Districts (NRCDs)

For over 70 years Natural Resources Conservation Districts (NRCDs) have been working with landowners, organizations and government agencies to protect our soil, water, forests, wildlife and other natural resources.

Vermont’s 14 NRCD’s provide landowners and agricultural producers with technical, financial and educational assistance for working with state and federal programs. District’s act as local facilitators linking farmers with the appropriate federal and state cost share programs and private sources of funding that can help producers meet their management objectives. Districts coordinate the Local Work Group for the USDA Farm Bill programs, run agricultural and natural resource management workshops and provide educational information on many related topics.

Through the Agricultural Resource Specialist (ARS) program, staff work with farmers on meeting Vermont’s Accepted Agricultural Practices, provide free farm well water sampling for nitrates, pesticides and bacteria, assess farm operations through the Agricultural Environmental Management program, and make recommendations on improving environmental impacts of the farm operation. Assistance is available on manure management, proper siting of manure storage or composting facilities, technical information on water quality issues, and much more. For more information, visit the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts on the web, or contact your local Conservation District office.